Introducing the Spartan Spirit Awards

Every Spartan has a story. But that story isn’t really about what brought you to the course; rather, it’s the story about how you power through it. To tackle Spartan’s biggest obstacles, you need grit, determination, and perseverance—and those are traits that everyone who identifies as a Spartan has in common.

Without those people, and each of their personal stories, there would be no Spartan. There aren’t many brands that inspire the sense of belonging and community that Spartan does—but we didn’t manufacture that. Spartans are the ones doing the work to overcome obstacles, transform their lives, and inspire each other. Every time you embrace adversity and push beyond what you thought was possible, you help make the community even stronger.

That’s why, starting today, we’re launching the Spartan Spirit Awards. Every month, we’ll be awarding three people who truly embody the key Spartan values: grit, determination, and perseverance. Whether they’re a leader on the course or within their community, a relentlessly hard worker, or a passionate advocate for others, our award winners show what it really means to be a Spartan.

With Mother’s Day approaching, we’re kicking the Spirit Awards off by celebrating five superhero Spartan moms. Moms don’t get “off days”—not even when the training gets tough. From the minute they’re up in the morning to their head hits the pillow at night, they don’t stop. These brave, inspiring women aren’t afraid to give it their all. They don’t quit, and they help their families navigate life’s obstacles every day. Sure, they don’t do it for an award, but we think they deserve one.

From Jennifer Herring, who struggled with her weight until she became the only one in her family strong enough to care for her ailing father, to Tiffany Smiley, who defied the U.S. Military’s order to de-enlist her husband after he was blinded by a car bomb in combat, these women know exactly what it takes to dig deep and not just overcome adversity, but thrive in the face of it.

More women than ever are becoming part of the Spartan tribe. Let these strong women inspire you to start living your life to the fullest, and embrace the grit, determination, and perseverance you need to go after your goals.

Think you know someone who deserves the Spartan Spirit Award? Any gender, any age, nominate them! And remember, each month, we’ll be spotlighting new honorees across Spartan.com and our social channels.